Windmill-head.



un. `7||,|4a. Pate'nfd oct, I4, 1902.4 F. E. BENEDIGT.l WINDMILL-HEAD. (Application med Jun. 30, 1902.)

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. yPa'tnte'd Oct. I4, IQGZ.V F. E.YBENEDICT. wlNnmLL HEAD. (Application med Jan.. so, 1902.)

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no. l7||,|4. Patented oct. |4, |902.

F. E. BENEnlcT.

' WINDMILL HEAD.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1902.) (IM lodel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT EEICE.

FREDERIC E. BENEDICT, OF OAKPARK, ILLINOIS.

WINDMILL-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,148, dated October 14, 1902.

Application tiled January 30, 1902. Serial No. 91,857. (No model.)

To n/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERIC E. BENEDICT, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Oakpark, in the county of Cook and` State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Windmill-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in back-geared pumping-windmills,its principal object being to provide a construction which shall combine in the highest degree simplicity, cheapness of construction,durability, and the rigidly-fixed relation of those parts which should be immovable with reference to each other.

The invention is fully described and explained in this specification and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a windmill embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3, l, the View being in the direction indicated by the arrow fr in Fig. l. Fig. et is a perspective view of the head or turn-table of the mill. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, the View being in the direction indicated by the arrow fr. of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the broken line 6 6 of Fig. l, the view being downward. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. l, the View being in the same direction as in Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the rocker-arm and the parts immediately connected therewith, the plane of section being on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

In the views, A, Fig. l, designates a windmill-tower of any suitable construction supporting two shaft-bearings@ a, arranged one above the other, the uppermost bearing beingin the top of the tower. On said upper bearing a rests the lower end of the tubular head or turn-table of the windmill, this head being provided with a downwardly-extending tube B', preferably integral with it, and said tube B being journaled in the bearings a a, so as to hold the head in suitable relation to the tower and permit its free rotation. The head B is provided with two brackets B2 B3, cast integral wi-th it and lying on opposite sides of it, and it is likewise provided at its upper and lower ends with integrally-formed lugs B4 B5, which serve as supports for the vane The bracket B2 has at its outer end an integrally-formed horizontal shaft-bearing C, and the bracket B3 is formed with two integral shaft-bearings C C2, parallel to the bearing C, the bearing C being near the middle of the bracket and the bearing C2 being at the upper end thereof. The bearing C supports the shaft D of the wind-Wheel, which is journaled in it and extends from it at both ends, and on the left-hand end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, are mounted the plates E E of a windwheel of ordinary construction, while-on the right-hand end of the shaft is mounteda pinion F. The bearing C supports a shaft D', which is journaled in it, and on the right-l hand end of this shaft, as shown in Fig. l, is mounted a spur-gear F,=which engages the pinion F and isdriven thereby. The spurgear F is provided with a crank-pin f, which engages the lower end of a pitman G, and the upper end of this pitman is pivotally connected with the free end of a rocker-arm H, the opposite end of the arm being pivotally supported by the upper end of the bracket B3. A pump-rod G is pivotally supported at its upper end on the free end of the rocker-arm H and extends downward through the head B and tube B to the foot of the tower.

It will be seen that the bearings C C being cast integral with the head B and with each other are in rigidly-fixed relation, so thatthe proper engagement of the gearing is a matter of certainty; that the rotation of the wind-wheel shaft gives a reduced rotation to the gear-wheel F, which is the crank-plate of the windmill; that the pitman transmits reciprocal motion from the crank-plate to the rocker-arm I-I and thence to the pump-rod G, and that all the parts are so related as to secure strength, cheap'ness of construction, durability, and exactness of operation.

t is apparent that in any machine of this class all rapidlymoving parts should be made as light as possible as a saving of power, while the weight of other substantially immovable parts is a mere matter of economy of construction. For this reason the rockerarm I-I of the construction shown in the drawings is preferably lighter and of smaller dimensions than the part of the bracket B3 with which it is immediately connected. This IOO being the case, it is obvious that the greatest be secured by making the pivot between the rocker-arm and the bracket integral with the arm and journaling it in the bearing formed on the bracket. This 'construction is illustrated in Figs. l and 2, but more specifically in Fig. 8, which is a longitudinal section of the rocker-arm and of the parts immediately connected therewith. In this figure the bearing C2 at the upperl end of the bracket B3 is shown in longitudinal section, and the corresponding end of the rocker-arm I-I is provided with a gudgeon 7t,(preferably a wroughtmetal rod cast in the end of the rocker-arm,) this gudgeon being journaled in the bearing C2. In the same way the opposite end of the rocker-arm I-I is formed with two gudgeons h h2, projecting in opposite directions from it, the gudgeon h2 being journaled in the upper end of the pitman G, while the gudgeon h' is journaled in an enlargement g at the upper end ot' the pump-rod G, and thus forms the support for the pump-rod.

The lugs B4B5 ot' the head B form the support of the vane of the windmill, as is above suggested, the connection of the parts being thoroughly illustrated in Fig. 5, in which I is the main horizontal member of the vane, and I is a casting receiving the inner end of the member I and resting upon the lowerlug B5. In the inner end of the casting I' is rigidly (and preferably integrally) secured an upwardly-extending tube I2, the upper end of which abuts against the upper lug B4 and prevents upward movement of the vane. Within this tube is a rod I3, extending through both lugs B4 B5 and connecting the vane therewith, and from the upper end of the rod AI3 an .oblique brace I4 extends outward and downward to the end of the member I. On the tube I2 is coiled a spring S, the upper end of which is hooked about the upper lug B4,

while its lower end is formed with a projecting arm s, which engages one end of a bolt s', the opposite end of said bolt being passed through an eye at the upper end of a vertical bolt s2,which passes through the casting I' and through the inner end of the member I, and thus holds them together. The end of the bolt s which projects beyond the eye of the eyebolt s2 is provided with a wingnut N, by which it may be taken up or letout for the purpose of regulating the tension of the spring S. On the casting I' is rigidly fastened a transverse horizontal bar K, one end of which is curved in a horizontal plane to form a stop K', abutting-against the head B and. forming a limit to the motion of the vane in one direction, while the opposite end is turned upward, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to form an arm K2, for the purpose which will be presently eX- plained. The attachments of the spring S are such that the tension of the spring tends to swing the vane in the direction indicated by the arrow fr' in Fig. 2, and thus to hold the stop K against the head B, and the regulation vofthe, tension of the spring is for the purpose of adjusting the forcewith whichthe vane is thus held in its normal position. When in this normal position, the vane is approximately in the vertical plane of the windwheel shaft and approximately at right angles to the plane of the wind-wheel; but itI tical displacement of the vane, but also forms a supporting-core for the spring S, and it is likewise obvious that the eyebolt 32 has the double function of connecting the vane member I and casting Iand of forming an abutment for the nut N, which serves to regulate the tension of the spring S.

In any mill of this general type means must be provided for drawing the wind-wheel from its normal position by hand-power applied at the lower end of the tower, and Fig. 2 illustrates the means provided for this purpose in the construction set forth herein. In this figure, L represents a cord fastened to the upper end of the arm K2 of the bar K, and this cord passes about a horizontal pulley P (supported within a yoke c, formed integral with the bearing C, as shown in Fig. 4) and thence over a vertical pulley P', extending through a slot in the tubular head B, as shown in Fig. 6. passing over the vertical pulley P is within the tubular head B, and it passes downward to the foot of the tower and may be pulled It will be seen that the cord after I ICO downward, with the eifect of swinging the.l l

vane from its normal position, and thus drawing the stop K away from the head B. The casting I is formed with a horizontal projection I5, Figs. 2 and 6, the edge vof which is adapted to strike the head B, and thus form a stop limiting the movement of the vane as it is drawn out of the wind.

In a mill of this general type it is desirable to provide means for automatically slacking,

the motion of the wind-wheel as it swings out of the wind as well as for practically locking the wind-wheel against rotation when the vane has been drawn from its normal posi-l tion by means of the cord provided for that purpose. Figs. l, 2, 6, and 7 illustrate a brake mechanism provided for that purpose and forming part of the construction set forth inl I IOy 'ward the plate E of the wind-wheel.

ward, so that the lever straddles the hub of the brake-shoe,and the free end ot the lever is pivotally connected with the corresponding end of a connecting-rod N', which extends to and is pivotally connected with the casting I of the vane. The connecting-rod Nl is preferably made in two parts adjustably joined by means of a turnbuckle N2, so as to secure the exact relation necessary to perfect operation of the device, and that end of the rod which is connected with the castingI' is curved, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the entire rod, which is of spring-steel, may transmit a yielding pressure to the brake-shoe. The lever M lies between suitable lugs on the hub E3 of the brake-shoe, and it is obvious that as the vane is swung from its normal position the movement transmitted through the connecting-rod N and lever M must push the brake-shoe to- A sufficient movement of the vane brings the brakeshoe into frictional contact with the plate, and thus arrests and prevents rotation of the wind-wheel.

Having now described and explained my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a windmill of the class described, the combination with the tower, of the tubular turn-table B supported thereby and formed with the oppositely-placed brackets B2B3 supporting the parallel bearings C C' C2,the windwheel shaft D journaled in the bearing C and provided with the pinion F, the second shaft D journaled in the bearing C' and provided with the gear-wheel F' engaging the pinion F and having the crank-pin f, the rocker-arm H provided with the rigid gudgeon h journaled in the bearing C2, the pitrnan G connecting the crank-pin fand the free end of the rocker-arm H, and the pump-rod G' carried by the upper end of the pitman, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with the tubular turntable B having the brackets B2 BS4 and bearings C, C', C2, of the shafts D D and gears F F', the pitman G, the rocker-arm H formed at one end with a gudgeon journaled in the bearing C2, and at the other end with two gudgeons, one journaled in the upper end ot' the pitman, and a pump-rod G', pivoted on the other of said gudgeons and supported thereby.

3. In a windmill of the class described, the combination with the tubular turn-table B formed with lugs B4 B5 at its upper and lower ends, of a vane-casting I resting on said lower lug, a vane member I entering said casting and secured therein by means of the eyebolt s2, a tube I2 set in the vane-casting and abutting against the upper lug B4, a connectingrod I3 passing through said lugs and extending longitudinally of said tube, a spring coiled about said tube and connected with the upper lug, an arm projecting from the lower end of said spring, a bolt engaging said arm and passing through the eye of said eyebolt, and a nut mounted on said bolt and abutting against said eye and serving to regulate the tension of said spring.

4. The combination with the tubular turntable B having the lugs B4 B5, of the casting I' resting on the lower lug, the vane member I entering said casting and connected-therewith by means of the eyebolt s2, a suitable pivot connecting said vane-casting with said lug B5, a coil-spring S engaging said upper lug B4 and having a projecting arm s at its lower end, a bolt s' engaging said spring-arm and passing through the eye of said eyebolt, and a nut N engaging the end of said bolt s and serving to regulate the tension of the Spring.

5. The combination with the tubular head, of the vane-casting pivoted thereto and supporting the vane, the wind-wheel shaft journaled in a bearing on the head and provided with a plate E, the sliding, non-rotating brakeshoe E2 adapted to impinge upon the plate E, the operating-lever M engaging said brakeshoe and adapted to move it longitudinally in either direction, and the spring-steel connecting-rod N' interposed between said lever and said vane-casting, whereby the movement of the vane in one direction may press the brake-shoe against the plate, with a yielding force.

6. The combination with the head B, of the vane-casting I pivoted thereto and supporting the vane, the wind-wheel shaft D journaled in a bearing on the head, the plate E mounted on the wind-wheel shaft, the slid` FREDERIC E. BENEDIOT. Witnesses:

CHAs. O. SHERVEY, RUSSELL WILEs. 

